AE

first class, wooden body, corridor.

Number in Class 42
Number group 1 - 42
Construction period 1906 - 1923
In service 1906 - mid 80's
Where built Newport
Models HO scale: Auscision
Found mainly on longer distance intrastate passes, the AE's had beautifully crafted interiors featuring nicely upholstered seats (6 per compartment) and fine woodwork, they rode supurbly at high speed.
In 1935, AE 21 was converted to Kiewa and AE 26 was converted to Moyne. The conversion consisted of removing 5 compartments and installing a buffet/kitchen area.
In 1971, AE 37 was converted to HW 1 which was the crew car for the Weedex train.

The AE's were built with 6 wheel bogies, when the "Spirit Of Progress" was converted from Broad Gauge to Standard Gauge in the early 1960's the Broad Gauge bogies from the AS and BS cars were fitted to most of the AE cars (1962 - 1964)
The following AE's were air conditioned in 1935/39: 1, 3, 12, 36 in 1962 these cars were recoded to BE's 50, 51, 52, 49 respectively,in 1983 at least two (51 & 52) air conditioned BE's were recoded back to AE class but kept their BE numbers.

BELOW: AVE 5 as built. At the time it was lit by Pintsch gas which was carried in the large tanks on the underframe. This particular car was written off after an accident at Callington SA. AE's were converted to electric lighting in the early to mid 1920's. The mirrors above the main windows were painted over in the 1920's and were covered over in the 1930's. photo courtesy PROV

ABOVE & BELOW: AVE 1, built 1906, recoded to AE 1 1910. It ended up as BE 50 in 1962. photo courtesy PROV   

 

ABOVE: AE 2 at Ballarat workshops, June 26 1978
Photo courtesy Geoff Winkler


ABOVE: AE 4, photo date: April 1984
Photo courtesy Rob O'Regan

ABOVE: AE 4 at Ballarat workshops, June 26 1978
Photo courtesy Geoff Winkler

ABOVE: Joint stock AE 7 at Spencer St, circa 1936. (SLV collection)

ABOVE: AE 10 at Spencer St, circa 1974. The joint stock AE's kept their original bogies to the end. AE 10 was scrapped  April 1976. (photo courtesy David Langley)


ABOVE: AE 13 at Sth Geelong, Sept. 24 1978
Photo courtesy Geoff Winkler

ABOVE: AE 18 at Sth Geelong, Sept. 24 1978
Photo courtesy Geoff Winkler

ABOVE & BELOW: AE 19 at Spencer St, circa 1936. I don't know what the pictorial panel was all about. (SLV collection)

 

AE 19 at Spencer St, Oct. 18 1978
Photo courtesy Geoff Winkler

AE 23 at Geelong, Sept. 2 1978
Photo courtesy Geoff Winkler


AE 24 at Geelong, Sept. 2 1978 Photo courtesy Geoff Winkler


AE 28 at Spencer Street, 1978


ABOVE: AE 28 at Geelong, Jan. 13 1978
Photo courtesy Geoff Winkler

ABOVE: AE 30 circa 1930 (SLV collection)

ABOVE: AE 38 at Ballarat workshops, June 26 1978 (photo courtesy Geoff Winkler)


The bogies from the BG "Spirit of Progress" that were fitted to the AE's in the early 60's


End view of AE 2



In 1983 at least two (51 & 52) air conditioned BE's were recoded back to AE. AE 51 was formerly AE 3.
BELOW: photo date, Feb 1983. Photo courtesy Rob O'Regan.


ABOVE & BELOW: AE 36 circa Dec. 1935 just after the car was equipped with air conditioning. This was VR's first air conditioned car. In Nov. 1961 it was recoded to BE 49. It was severely damaged in a derailment at Laverton in 1976 and scrapped in 1978. Official VR photo

 

ABOVE: AE 2 (as preserved) at Nth Melb workshops July 1987
Photo courtesy Rob O'Regan


ABOVE: AE 30 in an "as preserved" colour scheme, July 1987.
Photo courtesy Rob O'Regan

page last updated 1/15/12